Oracle Celebrates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Community During Pride Week

The rainbow flag, a symbol for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered community, will fly at eight Oracle campuses during Pride Week, June 22 to June 26, 2009—from the Redwood Shores, CA headquarters to Reston, VA. Additionally, employees in the United States and Canada will receive an official email from Human Resources announcing Pride Week, with a link to an internal web site, where they can find out more about the LAMBDA Affinity Group and sign up for mailing lists for LGBT communities around the world.

Helping the LGBT community network and find support is exactly why the LAMBDA Affinity Group began in 1990. The group also strives to educate Oracle employees about issues of concern to the community, especially as they relate to diversity in the workplace. Pride Week is important because it makes the community visible, says Justin Field, an active member of the Oracle LAMBDA Affinity Group. Field says this is especially important given Oracle's recent acquisitions. "Often new employees are surprised and pleased to find that there is an LGBT Affinity group."

Today, nearly 200 people are part of the LAMBDA Affinity Group's main mailing list; subscribers may arrange a gathering for members attending Oracle sales conferences, or exchange information on gay-friendly events around the world. It's an informal list, and events are open to all employees, Field says. "It's very much a model of, if employees want to organize something, the list is there, it's open, it's public, for employees to use and organize something," he says.

Oracle Diversity has supported both the LAMBDA Affinity Group and Pride Week, says Sr. Director Jane Robertson, because our employees care about it. "Oracle Diversity strives to create a culture of respect for all employees," says Robertson. Gay Pride Week provides us with another opportunity for our employees to feel included and supported.

Field says he appreciates Oracle's strong support. "It's an important message from the corporate side, to say we support all of our employees," he says. "And this is an opportunity to demonstrate respect for each other."